CENTRAL SQUARE, NY - The owner of Syracuse-based Limp Lizard Bar & Grill plans to open a new wedding/banquet center in Oswego County this spring.

The new venue, which will host weddings, banquets and special events, will be called The Pier, said Chuck Orlando, who owns Limp Lizard Bar & Grill.

The original Limp Lizard on Onondaga Boulevard in Syracuse opened in 2004. Orlando also is a partner in two Limp Lizard locations which opened after 2004 in North Syracuse and Liverpool.

Another view of the back of The Pier.Daniel Manning, architect

The new venue, to be called The Pier, is located in the former Dockside Grill (also the former Calypso Cay) at 11 Dockside Drive in Central Square, at the mouth of Oneida Lake on the Oneida River. It is right next to the Route 11 bridge.

Orlando, who closed on the property two weeks ago, is in the midst of a $500,000 renovation of the nearly 5,000-square-foot building. He expects work to be completed by mid-April, with a target opening set for May 1.

The interior of the former restaurant has been completely gutted and remodeled, with a new open floor plan for the banquet area, a new bar and new bathrooms.

The back portion of The Pier has a new deck with a covered patio, and the lower level will have a lounge with a gas fire pit.

A look at the back of The Pier, a new wedding venue being opened in Central Square by Limp Lizard.Daniel Manning, architect

The banquet area will serve about 250 people, Orlando said.

The property first caught Orlando's attention about eight years ago, when he considered it as another restaurant location, Orlando told Syracuse.com. He passed on it then, but when it came on the market again, he was intrigued.

This time, he envisioned it as the perfect wedding venue.

Limp Lizard's catering business has exploded in growth, with more than 1,000 off-site parties in 2017 - including 160 graduation events in one weekend, Orlando said.

"It's crazy how busy it's been, and we started talking about how perfect this location would be for a wedding and special event venue,'' he said.

Orlando said he keeps tinkering with the overall design, but said construction is progressing smoothly.